Gun Muzzle Sound Suppressor

ABSTRACT

A gun muzzle sound suppressor incorporating a plurality of bells, the plurality of bells including a breachward-most bell and at least a second bell, wherein each bell among the plurality of bells has a breachward throat and a muzzleward mouth, wherein the breachward throat of the at least second bell extends into the muzzleward mouth of the breachward-most bell, wherein each bell among the plurality of bells has a circumferentially extending wall, wherein the radially outer surface of the circumferentially extending wall of the breachward-most bell is radially inwardly and muzzlewardly bowed, and wherein the radially outer surface of the circumferentially extending wall of the at least second bell is substantially conic; and incorporating a cylindrical housing, wherein the plurality of bells are arranged in a linear series within the cylindrical housing.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to gun and rifle sound suppressors or silencers. More particularly, this invention relates to such sound suppressors or silencers which incorporate special configurations of and arrangements of interior blast reflecting and channeling baffles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Variously configured gas reflecting and channeling baffles and partitions are known to be mounted within the typically cylindrical hollow interior of a gun muzzle sound suppressor. Many known configurations of such baffles provide a marginal or deficient level of sound suppression. The instant inventive gun muzzle sound suppressor achieves enhanced and superior levels of sound suppression by providing specially configured bell shaped baffles and by uniquely arranging such baffles in a linear series within the suppressor's hollow interior.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The instant inventive sound suppressor device or implement is intended to serve as or function as an attachable and detachable auxiliary component of a pistol, a revolver, or a rifle. In a preferred embodiment, the instant inventive sound suppressor provides female helical threads at its breachward end for easy attachments to and detachments from a firearm's externally helically threaded muzzle.

A major structural component of the instant inventive gun muzzle sound suppressor comprises a plurality or series of bell configured baffles which are referred to generally herein as bells. In a preferred embodiment, such plurality of bells comprises a breachward-most bell and at least a second bell which is held at a longitudinally adjacent position with respect to the breachward-most bell. The breachward-most bell in combination with the at least second bell forms a linear bell series which extends muzzlewardly along the suppressor's central longitudinal axis.

In a preferred embodiment, each of the bell components of the inventive suppressor includes a relatively narrow throat at its breachward end and includes a relatively wide mouth at its muzzleward end. The throat of the at least second bell preferably extends breachwardly into the mouth of the breachward-most bell, and each bell necessarily has an annular wall which extends circumferentially about the suppressor's central longitudinal axis. Bullets fired through the suppressor pass successively through the bells' throats and mouths to emit at a muzzle opening.

The radially outer surface of the circumferentially extending wall of the breachward-most bell is necessarily bowed radially inwardly and muzzlewardly so that such surface approximates a geometric shape selected from the group consisting of obverted ellipsoid surfaces, obverted paraboloid surfaces, and hyperboloid surfaces.

In contrast with the radially inwardly and muzzlewardly bowed radially outer surface of the breachward-most bell, the radially outer surface of the at least second bell is substantially conic, such surface being configured as a portion of the surface of a geometric cone. In the preferred embodiment, the suppressor further comprises a plurality of third bells which extends in a linear series muzzlewardly from the at least second bell. Each third bell is preferably configured substantially identically with the at least second bell.

A further structural component of the instant inventive gun muzzle sound suppressor comprises at least a first cylindrical housing, the plurality of bells being securely and fixedly mounted within a hollow interior space defined by such housing. In a preferred embodiment, each bell is formed wholly with the at least first cylindrical housing, the bells' mounting connections residing at the peripheral edges or lips of the bells' mouths. The at least first cylindrical housing is preferably longitudinally segmented, and each bell's wholly formed connection with such housing preferably resides at one of such segments. Where the at least first housing is segmented, a second outer housing is preferably provided to receive and support the inner housing's segments in a linear series.

In operation of the instant inventive gun muzzle sound suppressor, a bullet may be fired from an attached weapon, such bullet passing longitudinally and muzzlewardly through the bells' throat and mouth openings. A portion of the expanding volume of gas following the bullet's passage initially impinges against the bowed radially outer surface of the breachward-most bell, remaining portions of such gas pass muzzlewardly through the throat of the breachward-most bell. Such remaining portions of the gas successively impinge against the substantially conic radially outer surfaces of the suppressor's muzzleward series of bells.

A reconfiguration of the instant invention's bells to alternatively breachwardly position one of the conic bells has been observed to produce a suppressor which performs markedly less effectively in terms of sound suppression. The instant invention produces enhanced gun muzzle sound suppression by radially inwardly and muzzlewardly bowing the radially outer surface of the circumferentially extending wall of the breachward-most bell, and by conically configuring the radially outer surfaces of the muzzlewardly successive bells within the suppressor.

Accordingly, objects of the instant invention include the provision of a gun muzzle sound suppressor which incorporates structures as described above, and which arranges those structures in manners described above for the achievement of beneficial functions described above.

Other and further objects, benefits, and advantages of the instant invention will become known to those skilled in the art upon review of the Detailed Description which follows, and upon review of the appended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the instant inventive gun muzzle sound suppressor.

FIG. 2 is an alternative perspective view of the structure of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view as indicated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a exploded view of interior components of the FIGS. 1-3 structure.

FIG. 5 is a partial magnified view of a portion of the structure of FIG. 3, as indicated in FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 presents an alternative configuration of the FIG. 3 structure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to Drawing FIG. 1, a preferred embodiment of the instant inventive gun muzzle sound suppressor is referred to generally by Reference Arrow 1. Referring further simultaneously to FIGS. 2-5, further structural components of the instant inventive gun muzzle sound suppressor comprise a plurality of bells or bell configured baffles, such plurality comprising at a minimum a breachward-most bell which is referred to generally by Reference Arrow 2 and a second bell which is referred to generally by Reference Arrow 4. Such bell components have relatively narrow and breachward throat openings 6 and 10, and have muzzleward mouth openings 8 and 12 which are relatively wide. As is particularly shown in FIG. 3, the throat opening 10 of the at least second bell 4 extends or nests breachwardly into the mouth 8 of the breachward-most bell 2.

The breachward-most bell 2 has an annular wall 14 which extends circumferentially about axis 5. In the preferred embodiment, such circumferentially extending wall 14 is bowed radially inwardly and muzzlewardly so that its radially outer surface 18 forms a geometric shape which approximates an obverted ellipsoid surface, an obverted paraboloid surface, or a hyperboloid surface.

Referring in particular to FIG. 5, the radially outer surface 18 of the circumferentially extending wall 14 of the breachward-most bell 2 has a length dimension along line 58, such dimension extending radially outwardly from and muzzlewardly from the periphery of throat 6. Such surface 18 necessarily bows radially inwardly and muzzlewardly from such line 58 to a bow depth 60. In the preferred embodiment, the breachward-most bell's bow depth 60 is adjusted or tailored to be between 1/12 and ⅙ of length 58. In contrast with the concavely bowed outer surface 18 of the breachward-most bell 2, the suppressor's at least second bell 4 has a radially outer surface 17 which is substantially conic or configured as a portion of the surface of a geometric cone.

A further structural component of the instant inventive gun muzzle sound suppressor comprises at least a first cylindrical housing which is designated by Reference Numerals 22 and 22 s. In the preferred embodiment, the base end or muzzleward end of each bell configured baffle is fixedly attached to or formed wholly with such housing.

A plurality of third bell configured baffles 24 are preferably provided, such third bells being arranged in a muzzleward linear series extending from the at least second bell 4. In the preferred embodiment, each bell 24 among the plurality of third bells is configured substantially identically with the at least second bell 2. Further segments 22 s of the at least first cylindrical housing provide individual or one to one mounting support to such third bells 24.

Where the at least first cylindrical housing 22,22 s includes a linear series of segments, a second or radially outer housing 26 is preferably provided. Such outer housing 26 advantageously nestingly receives and supports the segments of the at least first cylindrical housing 22,22 s. In the preferred embodiment, the inside diameter of the second cylindrical housing 26 is slightly greater than the outside diameter of the first cylindrical housing 22,22 s, such differential in diameters advantageously creating a gas passage annulus 28 between such two housings.

In a preferred embodiment, a multiplicity of gas channeling vanes or baffles 30 is disposed within the gas passage annulus 28, such baffles preferably extending helically about the longitudinal axis 5. In such embodiment, radially inner bases of the helical baffles 30 are formed wholly with or constitute continuations of the first cylindrical housing's segments 22,22 s.

Referring simultaneously to FIGS. 3 and 4, in order to facilitate assembly of the instant inventive sound suppressor, internal helical threads 44 are provided at the muzzleward end of the second or radially outer cylindrical housing 26. A blast choking ring 46 having mating external helical threads 43 and having a central muzzle aperture 48 may be initially screwed in place within the outer housing 26 as indicated in FIG. 3. Wrench jaw engaging sockets 49 may be utilized to assist in screw installation of the ring 46. Such ring 46 preferably includes and presents a breachwardly extending shoulder 47, the extreme breachward end of which includes a multiplicity of gas passage slots 50.

Following the threaded installation of the blast choking ring 46, as indicated in FIG. 3, the plurality of third bells 24, the at least second bell 4, and the breachward-most bell 2 may be slidably inserted into the breachward end of the outer housing 26, such bells sliding therein muzzlewardly to assume the longitudinal series configuration depicted in FIG. 3.

Thereafter, a provided gun muzzle adapter 34 may be initially slidably inserted muzzlewardly into the breachward opening of housing 26. To facilitate further mounting of the gun muzzle adapter 34, the breachward end of the housing 26 presents helical threads 32 which are gauged to mate with external helical threads 31 formed about the gun muzzle adapter 34. A muzzleward extension sleeve component 40 of the gun muzzle adapter 34 includes a multiplicity of gas passage slots 41 which function similarly with slots 50. Upon screw tightening of the gun muzzle adapter 34 by engagement of a wrench (not depicted within views) with wrench jaw sockets 36, the extreme muzzleward end of the gun muzzle adapter 34 advantageously presses the series of bells 2, 4, and 24 muzzlewardly against the shoulder 47 of the blast choking ring 46. As a final assembly step, the suppressor 1 may be screwed onto a muzzle of a firearm (not depicted within views) through use of muzzle mounting screw threads 38. Helical threads 38 are commonly right handed in order to match common right handed threads which are applied to silencer adapted gun muzzles. Where threads 38 are right handed, threads 31, 32, 43, and 44 are preferably left handed so that threaded detachment of the suppressor 1 from such gun muzzle will not unscrew the threaded mounts of the adapter 34 and the ring 46.

In operation of the instant inventive sound suppressor, referring simultaneously to FIGS. 1-5, a fired bullet may initially traverse the hollow interior space defined by the extension sleeve component 40 of the muzzle adapter 34. Thereafter, such bullet successively passes through throat openings 6 and 10, then passing through the throat opening of each of the third cones 24. Such bullet finally traverses a conical space 52 within the suppressor's muzzleward-most bell, and exits through muzzle opening 48.

Immediately following the muzzleward passage of such bullet, a substantial portion of blast gases may impinge against the radially inwardly and muzzlewardly bowed outer surface 18 of the breachward-most bell 2. A portion of such impinging gases reflects breachwardly while another portion of such gases continues muzzlewardly, passing through slots 41. Blast gases which are shunted through slots 41 travel circumferentially and muzzlewardly along the annulus 28, the movement of such gas being damaged or buffered by the helically extending baffles 30. At the extreme muzzleward end of the annulus 28, such shunted portion of the expanding gas passes radially inwardly through slots 50 to emerge into the suppressor's muzzleward space 52. Such gases may then emit through muzzle opening 48. Accordingly, the annulus 28 and helical baffles 30 function as a gas pressure relief shunt or bypass which advantageously reduces breachward reflections of gases at bell surface 18. Such reduction of breachward reflection of gas beneficially minimizes the tendency of such reflected gases to interfere with a mechanically automated cartridge chambering function which may commonly be performed by the weapon's breach mechanism.

A separate portion of the expanding gas which explosively follows the above described fired bullet may initially pass through the suppressor's breachward-most throat opening 6, such gas thereafter impinging against the conical surface 17 of the at least second bell 4. Successively diminishing portions of such expanding gases pass through the throats of the third bells 24 to impinge against next successive conical radially outer surfaces.

The pressure and velocity of the bullet trailing gas which finally enters space 52 via combined passages through annulus 28 and through the throats of the bells is low and is markedly reduced. Accordingly, the instant inventive suppressor effectively reduces blast sounds emitting from muzzle opening 48 while minimizing breachward reflections of gas along the bore of the weapon's barrel.

Referring to the alternative configuration of Drawing FIG. 6, all structures identified by a reference numeral having the suffix “A” are configured substantially identically with similarly numbered structures appearing in Drawing FIGS. 1-5. In the FIG. 6 structural alternative, a plurality of circumferentially extending knurls or ridges 62 is presented at the radially outer surface of the breachward-most bell 60. Similar circumferentially extending knurls 66 are presented at the conic radially outer surface of the at least second bell 64. Such knurls 62 and 66 operate to reduce breachward reflection of muzzle blast gases. Where such pluralities or multiplicities of knurls are provided, the radially outwardly and breachwardly extended apexes of such knurls are recognized as constituting the invention's bowed or conic surfaces.

While the principles of the invention have been made clear in the above illustrative embodiment, those skilled in the art may make modifications to the structure, arrangement, portions and components of the invention without departing from those principles. Accordingly, it is intended that the description and drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in the limiting sense, and that the invention be given a scope commensurate with the appended claims. 

1. A gun muzzle sound suppressor comprising: (a) a plurality of bells arranged in a series along a longitudinal axis, the plurality of bells comprising a breachward-most bell and at least a second bell, wherein each bell among the plurality of bells has a breachward throat and a muzzleward mouth, wherein the breachward throat of the at least second bell extends into the breachward-most bell's muzzleward mouth, wherein each bell among the plurality of bells has a circumferentially extending wall forming a geometric shape selected from the group consisting of obverted ellipsoid surfaces, obverted paraboloid surfaces, and hyperboloid surfaces, and wherein the circumferentially extending wall of the at least second bell is substantially conic; and (b) a first cylindrical housing, the plurality of bells being mounted within the first cylindrical housing.
 2. The gun muzzle sound suppressor of claim 1 wherein the plurality of bells further comprise a plurality of third bells, each bell among the plurality of third bells being positioned muzzlewardly from the at least second bell, wherein said each bell is configured substantially identically with the at least second bell.
 3. The gun muzzle sound suppressor of claim 2 wherein the first cylindrical housing is segmented, and wherein each bell among the plurality of bells is fixedly attached to or formed wholly with one of the first cylindrical housing's segments.
 4. The gun muzzle sound suppressor of claim 3 comprising a second cylindrical housing positioned radially outwardly from the first cylindrical housing, and further comprising a gas flow annulus between the first and second cylindrical housings.
 5. The gun muzzle sound suppressor of claim 4 further comprising a multiplicity of baffles within the gas flow annulus.
 6. The gun muzzle sound suppressor of claim 5 wherein each baffle among the multiplicity of baffles extends helically about the longitudinal axis.
 7. The gun muzzle sound suppressor of claim 6 wherein each baffle among the multiplicity of baffles is formed wholly with one of the first cylindrical housing's segments.
 8. The gun muzzle sound suppressor of claim 7 wherein the second cylindrical housing has a helically threaded breachward end, and further comprising a helically threaded gun muzzle adapter received within said end.
 9. The gun muzzle sound suppressor of claim 8 wherein the second cylindrical housing has a helically threaded muzzleward end, and further comprising a helically threaded blast choking ring received within said end.
 10. A gun muzzle sound suppressor comprising: (a) a plurality of bells arranged in a series along a longitudinal axis, the plurality of bells comprising a breachward-most bell and at least a second bell, wherein each bell among the plurality of bells has a breachward throat and a muzzleward mouth, wherein the breachward throat of the at least second bell extends into the breachward-most bell's muzzleward mouth, wherein each bell among the plurality of bells has a circumferentially extending wall, wherein the circumferentially extending wall of the breachward-most bell is radially inwardly and muzzlewardly bowed, and wherein the circumferentially extending wall of the at least second bell is substantially conic; and (b) a first cylindrical housing, the plurality of bells being mounted within the first cylindrical housing.
 11. The gun muzzle sound suppressor of claim 10 wherein the circumferentially extending wall of the breachward-most bell has a length extending radially outwardly and muzzlewardly from said bell's throat, wherein said wall's radially inward and muzzleward bow has a depth, and wherein said length is between six and twelve times greater than said depth.
 12. The gun muzzle sound suppressor of claim 11 wherein the plurality of bells further comprise a plurality of third bells, each bell among the plurality of third bells being positioned muzzlewardly from the at least second bell, wherein each bell is configured substantially identically with the at least second bell.
 13. The gun muzzle sound suppressor of claim 12 wherein the first cylindrical housing is segmented, and wherein each bell among the plurality of bells is fixedly attached to or formed wholly with one of the first cylindrical housing's segments.
 14. The gun muzzle sound suppressor of claim 13 comprising a second cylindrical housing positioned radially outwardly from the first cylindrical housing, and further comprising gas flow annulus between the first and second cylindrical housings.
 15. The gun muzzle sound suppressor of claim 14 further comprising and multiplicity of baffles within the gas flow annulus.
 16. The gun muzzle sound suppressor of claim 15 wherein each baffle among the multiplicity of baffles extends helically about the longitudinal axis.
 17. The gun muzzle sound suppressor of claim 16 wherein each baffle among the multiplicity of baffles is formed wholly with one of the first cylindrical housing's segments.
 18. The gun muzzle sound suppressor of claim 17 wherein the second cylindrical housing has a helically threaded breachward end, and further comprising a helically threaded gun muzzle adapter received within said end.
 19. The gun muzzle sound suppressor of claim 18 wherein the second cylindrical housing has a helically threaded muzzleward end, and further comprising a helically threaded blast choking ring received within said end.
 20. The gun muzzle sound suppressor of claim 10 further comprising a multiplicity of circumferentially extending knurls, each such knurl extending radially outwardly and breachwardly from one of the bells. 